Mangaluru: Roll up….Roll up! On your mark, get set for “Fun” at the “Agno Ashray Fete”- a Fancy Fete in aid of Housing Project for the needy. The weatherman has promised a sunny day. Ice cream and food booths have been set up. Food bazaar with home made variety of dishes is awaiting the crowd to satisfy their hungry bellies. Try your luck at the ‘Games Bazaar’ comprising of more than 30 fun-filled games, where you can win some big prizes. The ‘Auction’ and ‘Housie Housie’ team are debating the money making potential. Dj is gearing up to belt out a few popular Bollywood and Western hits- and there is the Pepsi Draw, Dazzling Games, Wheel of Fortune, and attractive prizes waiting for the fun lovers – And most of all the organizers have put all their efforts to make this Fete a success and squeeze that extra bit of juice out of each one!

The ‘Agno Ashray Fete” at St Agnes College-Mangaluru was inaugurated today (5 December) at 10:am by Chief guest Jacintha Alfred-Mangaluru City Corporation mayor, along with guests of honour-Naveen D’Souza, Corporator and K. Narendranath Kamath, DGM, Syndicate Bank, R.O., Mangaluru. Inaugurating the Fete, the Mayor said, ” This is indeed a great fund raising project organized by St Agnes Institutions for a good cause. People should such kind of projects which will make a difference the less fortunate. The AC nuns apart from providing good education to the students are also involving in giving help to the needy, which should be appreciated by all of us”. Corporator Naveen D’Souza and Narendra Kamath also speaking during the occasion offered their help and contribution to the institution from MCC and syndicate Bank respectively.Other dignitaries on the dais were- Sr Maria Roopa Ac-Superior of AC Congregation and St Agnes Institutions, Sr Carmelita AC-Asst Provincial superior of AC Congregation. Sam Mathew- a SAC parent and Lavina Aranha- convener of the Fest.

According to the Fancy Fete Committee, The Apostolic Carmel Congregation is celebrating 150 years of its existence in 2018. Mother Veronica, the Foundress of Apostolic Carmel Congregation had a preferential love for the poor, the needy and the homeless. Following the example of the Foundress, the Congregation has decided to commemorate the Sesquicentennial years of its existence in a unique manner by constructing 150 houses for the poor and the less privileged people of the society. To realize this project St. Agnes Convent and all its Institutions, Mangaluru – a unit of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation has organized this mega event — “Agno Ashray Fete’—‘Home for the Homeless’. This is a very significant event for all to collaborate in this fruitful mission. It is a collective effort of all the sisters, staff, students, parents, Alumni, friends, benefactors and well wishers.

In 1870 the Apostolic Carmel Congregation was transplanted to India and established at St. Ann’s Convent, Mangaluru. Today the congregation is spread all over India, Sri Lanka and East Africa. A hundred and forty seven years have passed. Today Mother Veronica’s work stands because it was built on rock. It lives in the 214 houses of the Congregation she founded, its schools, colleges, orphanages, health care centers and works of charity. It lives in the 1600 sisters who serve God and people all over the country and abroad; it lives in their prayer and their dedication. Mother Veronica’s heroic obedience to the will of God, her life of profound faith and prayer, her wholehearted commitment to the Cross, her outstanding humility and zeal for the Missions remain an inspiration to all those who, following the footsteps of Christ, seek to offer their lives in loving service of humanity, specially the poor and the less privileged. It is indeed a unique idea to organize this “Agno Ashray Fete” as a fundraiser project to raise some money to build houses to the needy.

Dr Malini Hebbar compered the formal programme. Trust me, the “Agno Ashray Fete” will be All Fun and Frolic, All Interesting, All Entertaining, All Fun-Filled and All Unbelievable….. and will be All Profitable with your support. So Come patronize this Fancy Fete and help a good cause. The Fete is open on 5 and 6 December from 10am to 8pm on both days, with special live entertainment from 6pm-8pm both days.